Starting in the 2025 season, the FIA European Hill Climb Championship (EHCC) will categorize Category 2 cars into one of four groups based on their performance, using a Performance Factor (Pf) system. This system, already in use for Category 1, is undergoing testing in Category 2 during the 2024 season to ensure the accuracy of performance calculations before it becomes fully operational next year.
The Pf system is part of a broader initiative by the FIA to modernize the hill climb category, encompassing sporting, technical and safety regulations. In 2023, the World Motor Sport Council approved new technical regulations specifically for hill climb cars, aiming to establish more consistent governance for these competitions, including the FIA EHCC.
The development of the Pf system involved collaboration between the FIA and national sporting authorities (ASNs), driven by growing safety concerns related to the capabilities of modern competition vehicles. The Pf system is designed to standardize performance targets across the range of cars that participate in hill climbs globally, according to the FIA.
Under the new system, cars will be grouped from P1 to P4 based on their performance levels. The FIA’s technical department will continue to monitor and adjust the parameters as needed, in response to any changes in the performance of vehicles competing in the EHCC.
To facilitate the implementation of the Pf system, the FIA has developed an online platform that enables competitors and ASNs to input a car’s specifications and generate its Pf. This tool, in use for Category 1 since 2021, will be fully implemented for Category 2 following the 2024 trial.
Additionally, the regulations outline a safety road map that will be introduced over three seasons beginning in 2025. During the transition period, cars certified under previous safety standards will still be permitted to compete, albeit with a restricted engine Pf.
